Summer Funding Programs

At Penn Law there are no financial barriers to taking unpaid summer internships in the public sector, or pursuing public interest work anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. Funding for such work is guaranteed, and each summer about 175 students take advantage of this opportunity.

Members of the Penn Law community participate in the annual Equal Justice Foundation auction.

With financial support from work-study programs, grants, and fellowships, students pursue a wide variety of summer employment assignments. Financial aid programs and some of the places students have gained experience in public service include:

Federal Work Study

Federal Work Study funds public interest work, which is defined as work to benefit the national or community welfare.

Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) Grants

EJF is a student-run public interest foundation that raises money for summer grants to fund public interest work. EJF grants are intended as a funding source with a particular focus on employment that is not otherwise fundable through work study or other grants. This includes international employment.

International Summer Human Rights Fellowships (ISHRF)

ISHRF funds students in summer placements with nonprofit government organizations, international tribunals, and other inter-governmental organizations or government offices involved in the direct service of human rights and development services abroad. ISHRF primarily fund placements held abroad.

The Alan M. Lerner Summer Fellowship

In memory of Professor Alan M. Lerner, and to continue his invaluable work, the family and friends of Professor Lerner have established a fund to provide summer stipends to law students engaged in child advocacy work during their first or second summers.

The Bernard and Zelda Wolfman Fellowship

The Wolfman Fellowship funds students working at public interest organizations which further the rights of prisoners and other institutionalized people.